Angiology
Medical specialty of the circulatory and lymphatic systems.
Angiology, from Greek roots meaning "vessel" and "study," is the medical specialty focused on the circulatory and lymphatic systems—specifically arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. In the United Kingdom, the field is commonly called angiology, while in the United States it is more often referred to as vascular medicine. This specialty is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases affecting blood vessels and the lymphatic system.
Arterial conditions addressed include those of the aorta, such as aneurysms and dissection, as well as arteries supplying the legs, hands, kidneys, brain, and intestines. The field also covers arterial thrombosis and embolism, vasculitides, and vasospastic disorders. Naturally, it involves preventing cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke. Venous diseases include venous thrombosis, chronic venous insufficiency, and varicose veins. Lymphatic diseases encompass primary and secondary forms of lymphedema. Additionally, vascular medicine works to modify risk factors for vascular disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Training in vascular medicine is well established in several European countries. The first European educational working group was founded in 1991 in Milan, later becoming a European scientific association in 1998. This organization offers various European educational programs, including a European Fellowship, European Master, CESMA-UEMS European Diploma, and postgraduate courses. In the United States, there are several independent vascular medicine training programs, as well as twelve NIH-funded three-year programs. These programs are suitable for internal medicine specialists as a fellowship or for cardiologists. The first vascular medicine board examinations were administered in 2005 by the American Board of Vascular Medicine.
- field
- Medical specialty (circulatory and lymphatic systems)
- also known as
- Vascular medicine (in the United States)
- focus
- Arterial, venous, and lymphatic diseases
- training regions
- Europe and the United States
- key organizations
- Society for Vascular Medicine; VAS - Vascular Independent Research and Education - European Organisation
Lore & Background
Angiology covers arterial diseases including the aorta (aneurysms/dissection) and arteries supplying the legs, hands, kidneys, brain, and intestines, as well as arterial thrombosis, embolism, vasculitides, and vasospastic disorders. It also deals with preventing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke. Venous diseases include venous thrombosis, chronic venous insufficiency, and varicose veins, while lymphatic diseases include primary and secondary forms of lymphedema. The specialty involves modification of risk factors for vascular disease like high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Reader's Guide
Angiology, also known as vascular medicine, is the medical specialty concerned with the circulatory and lymphatic systems, encompassing arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels. Its significance stems from its comprehensive focus on preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases of these vessels, which are major contributors to morbidity and mortality. The field addresses arterial conditions such as aneurysms and dissections of the aorta, as well as diseases affecting arteries supplying the legs, hands, kidneys, brain, and intestines. It also covers arterial thrombosis, embolism, vasculitides, and vasospastic disorders. Venous diseases under its purview include venous thrombosis, chronic venous insufficiency, and varicose veins, while lymphatic disorders involve primary and secondary lymphedema. A core aspect of angiology is the modification of cardiovascular risk factors like high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol. Training in this specialty is well established in several European countries, with the first European educational working group formed in Milan in 1991, later evolving into a European scientific organization offering programs such as a European Fellowship, European Master, and a European Diploma. In the United States, independent training programs exist, including twelve NIH-funded three-year programs, suitable for internal medicine specialists or cardiologists, with the first vascular medicine board examinations administered in 2005.
Did You Know?
- The term angiology comes from Greek ἀγγεῖον (angeīon, 'vessel') and -λογία (-logia).
- In the UK the field is more often termed angiology; in the United States the term vascular medicine is more frequent.
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